CHEMOPREVENTION BY GALANIN AGAINST COLON CARCINOGENESIS INDUCED BY AZOXYMETHANE IN WISTAR RATS

The effects of the neuropeptide galanin on the development of colon tu mors induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and on the labeling index of colon epithelial cells were investigated in Wistar rats. Treatment with gala nin significantly decreased the incidence of colon tumors at week 45. Galanin did not influence the histological appearance of the colon tum ors, but it slightly increased the frequency of sub-mucosal adenocarci nomas. Furthermore, it significantly decreased the labeling index of c olon mucosa during and after AOM treatment. These findings indicate th at galanin inhibited the development of colon tumors and that this eff ect may be related to its suppression of colon-epithelial-cell prolife ration. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.